The main legal rights for emotional support animals are housing-related. Find out how to disclose your ESA to your landlord or HOA, housing rights, and more here.
Learn about bringing your ESA or service dog to your college campus.
Practical tips and advice for dealing with your HOA when you have an ESA or service dog.
Guides for renters who want to live with their pet, ESA or service dog.
You may live alone. Or you and your partner have been together for some time and feel ready for the next step. Or you have...
No, a landlord cannot make you get rid of your emotional support dog, cat, or other animal, regardless of the building’s no pet policy or...
If you need a lawyer because your landlord is stonewalling your ESA request, charging “pet” fees, or hinting at eviction, you’re in the right place. This guide walks you through finding the right lawyer, what to ask them, and what to expect. Here’s a quick rundown of what t [...]
If you gave your landlord an ESA letter for your emotional support animal and they responded with additional forms to fill out, they might be violating the latest HUD housing rules, which says the following: “Housing providers may not require a health care professional to use a s [...]
Picture this: You're trying to relax at home with your emotional support dog, the companion who helps manage your anxiety, when suddenly there's a knock at the door. It's another notice from your HOA about noise complaints. Your heart sinks as you wonder: Could your emotional sup [...]
No, homeowners associations (HOAs) cannot legally require you to register either service dogs or emotional support animals (ESAs). Federal housing rules clearly state that you don’t need to register either type of support animal. If you have a service dog, your HOA can ask [...]
Yes, under federal and state rules, landlords have to reasonably accommodate tenants that need an ESA to support their mental health. Even if they have a building policy that prohibits all pets.
Fair housing rules generally apply to most public and private landlords. That includes rental apartments, co-ops and HOAs. A few smaller landlords are exempt: owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units and single-family homes sold or rented by the owner without the use of an agent.
Landlords are entitled to see only one document to confirm a tenant’s animal is an ESA. That document is an ESA letter signed by a licensed healthcare professional. Landlords cannot ask for other documents like IDs, licenses or certificates.